It was always going to be a gamble. How do you take one of the most iconic, jagged, and beloved characters in the history of British television—Jane Tennison—and try to explain how she got that way? It feels like trying to write a backstory for a thunderstorm. Most fans of the original Prime Suspect, which starred the legendary Helen Mirren, were understandably skeptical when ITV announced a prequel. They called it Prime Suspect 1973 in the UK, but across the pond and on various streaming services, you likely know them as the prime suspect tennison episodes.
Honestly? It actually worked. Mostly.
The series landed in 2017, based on Lynda La Plante’s novel Tennison. It didn't try to give us a "mini-Mirren" with all the answers. Instead, we got Stefanie Martini playing a 22-year-old WPC (Woman Police Constable) who was green, slightly naive, but possessed that same stubborn bone that would eventually make her a Detective Chief Superintendent. The show only lasted one season, consisting of six episodes that blended 1970s grit with the burgeoning feminist struggles of the era. If you’re looking for a binge-watch that feels like a time capsule of 1970s London—complete with the brown wallpaper, the constant haze of cigarette smoke, and the blatant, casual sexism of the Metropolitan Police—this is it.
The Gritty Reality of the Prime Suspect Tennison Episodes
The show doesn't waste time. Right from the start, we're dropped into Hackney, 1973. It’s dirty. It’s loud. Jane Tennison is basically a glorified errand girl for the male detectives. She’s fetching tea. She’s typing reports. She’s being told to stay in the car. But then, a young girl named Julie Ann Collins is found dead in a car park, and Jane finds herself pulled into the gravity of a high-stakes murder investigation.
What makes these episodes stand out isn't just the "whodunnit" aspect. It's the "how does she survive this" aspect.
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The investigation is led by DI Len Bradfield, played by Sam Reid. He’s the kind of guy who’s brilliant but clearly drowning in the toxic culture of the force. His chemistry with Jane is the engine of the season. It’s not a simple romance; it’s a messy, complicated mentorship that teeters on the edge of something more, which adds a layer of tension that the original series never really explored in the same way.
Not Just a Police Procedural
You’ve got a secondary plot involving a bank heist being planned by the Bentley family. This is where the show gets its "Sweeney" vibes. The Bentleys are old-school London villains—ruthless, family-oriented, and deeply suspicious. The way the murder of Julie Ann Collins eventually weaves into the criminal underworld of the Bentleys is clever writing. It doesn't feel forced. It feels like a city where everything is connected by thin, dirty threads.
One of the best things about the prime suspect tennison episodes is the pacing. Because there are only six, the story doesn't have room to breathe in a way that leads to filler. Each hour-long installment ramps up the stakes. You see Jane move from someone who flinches at a crime scene to someone who realizes that her intuition is her greatest weapon.
Wait. Let’s talk about the music. The soundtrack is incredible. You get tracks from Pink Floyd, T. Rex, and Groundhogs. It grounds the show in 1973 without feeling like a "Best of the 70s" compilation. It feels lived-in.
Why the Fans and Creators Clashed
Here is where things got messy behind the scenes. If you noticed a shift in tone or wondered why there wasn't a second season, you have to look at the fallout between the author, Lynda La Plante, and the production company, ITV.
La Plante actually left the project before it even aired.
- She felt the casting wasn't right.
- She disagreed with certain narrative changes to her book.
- The creative differences became so "irreconcilable" that she took her name off the promotional material.
This is a huge deal in the world of British TV. La Plante is Prime Suspect. Without her blessing, the show felt like an orphan. While the reviews were generally positive—Stefanie Martini was praised for not doing a Mirren impression—the lack of La Plante’s involvement likely contributed to the show being cancelled after just one series. It’s a shame. The final episode left so many doors open. We saw Jane’s first real heartbreak, her first real disillusionment with the law, and the first time she truly stood her ground against her family’s expectations.
Breaking Down the Plot Points
- The Julie Ann Collins Murder: This is the spine of the season. It’s a tragic, multi-layered case involving drug addiction, family secrets, and a "respectable" hospital that isn't so respectable.
- The Bentley Heist: A classic tunnel-digging bank robbery that goes sideways. It provides the high-octane action to balance Jane’s more methodical police work.
- Jane’s Family Life: Her father just wants her to get married and have a "normal" job. Her sister is the "perfect" one. The dinner table scenes are excruciatingly awkward and perfectly capture the generational divide of the early 70s.
- The Bradfield Factor: The relationship between Jane and her superior officer is the emotional core. When the finale hits, the fallout of their connection is what ultimately hardens Jane into the woman we see in the 1990s.
Where to Watch and What to Expect
If you're looking to stream the prime suspect tennison episodes, you can usually find them on BritBox, ITVX, or Amazon Prime depending on your region. They are often listed as Prime Suspect 1973.
Don't go into this expecting the explosive, world-weary Jane Tennison who drinks too much scotch and fights the glass ceiling with a sledgehammer. That Jane hasn't been born yet. This Jane is still trying to figure out how to keep her hat on straight while chasing a suspect. She’s observant. She’s quiet. She’s a bit of a sponge, soaking up the tradecraft from men who mostly wish she wasn't there.
The cinematography is worth a mention, too. It’s got this desaturated, yellowish hue. Everything looks slightly damp. It captures that specific British "grey" that defines the era's aesthetic. It’s a far cry from the sleek, high-tech labs of modern procedurals. Here, forensics involves a guy in a suit poking a body with a pencil and taking grainy black-and-white photos.
Is It Canon?
This is a point of contention among die-hard fans. Since La Plante disowned it, some purists refuse to count it as "real" Tennison history. However, for the casual viewer, it fits. It explains her estrangement from her family. It explains why she’s so guarded. It explains her skepticism toward romance within the force. Even if the "official" stamp isn't there, the spirit of the character is very much alive in Martini’s performance.
The ending of the sixth episode is particularly haunting. No spoilers, but it’s not a "happily ever after." It’s a "this is the job" moment. It’s the moment Jane realizes that being a copper means losing a piece of yourself every time you close a file.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Watchlist
If you're ready to dive into these episodes, here’s how to get the most out of the experience:
Watch the Original First (Or After): If you haven't seen the original Prime Suspect with Helen Mirren, watch at least the first series (1991). It makes the "Easter eggs" and character beats in the prequel much more satisfying. You’ll see the seeds of her later cynicism being planted.
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Read the Book: Lynda La Plante’s Tennison is actually quite different from the show. If you find yourself wanting more after the six episodes end, the book provides a much deeper look into the Bentley family and Jane’s internal monologue.
Don't Look for a Season 2: It's not coming. Accept that this is a "limited series" even if it wasn't intended to be. View it as a standalone origin movie broken into six parts.
Focus on the Background: The show is a masterclass in period-accurate set design. Pay attention to the police station—the rotary phones, the manual typewriters, the sheer volume of paperwork. it makes you realize how much harder it was to catch a killer without DNA and CCTV.
The "Mirren" Influence: Watch Stefanie Martini’s eyes. She doesn't mimic Mirren’s voice, but she captures that specific way Tennison looks at a crime scene—like she’s solving a puzzle that everyone else is too lazy to see. It’s a subtle, brilliant bit of acting that carries the show through its slower moments.
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Ultimately, the prime suspect tennison episodes serve as a gritty, atmospheric tribute to one of TV's greatest characters. It’s a shame we didn't get to see her navigate the late 70s or the early 80s, but these six hours are a solid piece of British crime drama that holds up years after its release. It’s about the loss of innocence, the birth of a legend, and the realization that sometimes, the "prime suspect" isn't the only one with secrets to hide.